The sacking of Baghdad by Hulagu Khan (& allies) led Mongols in 1258 leading to virtual end of Abbasid caliphate
This post is about a greatly tragic event in the Abbasid caliphate leading to its virtual end. I feel it is important to share info. about it, to improve understanding of history of Asia.
But this post should not be viewed as anti-Islam. I would like to state that I believe in Shirdi Sai Baba's teaching of "Sabka Maalik Ek" (The master of all is ONE). In other words, I believe in ONE GOD with various religions including Islam being various paths/ways to worship and merge in that ONE GOD. Specifically, I am not against Islam, and am actually supportive of it, so long as it does not interfere in the right of others (like me, a Hindu) to practise their faiths which are different from Islam (e.g. Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism),
and also does not interfere in the right of some to not have faith (atheists/agnostics). Shirdi Sai Baba used to say "Allah Maalik" (Allah/God is the master) very often; I revere the same Shirdi Sai Baba, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Baba_of_Shirdi, and try to follow His teachings.
The famous & major Islamic caliphates, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate, are
1. Rashidun Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate, from 632 to 661 CE: Note that Prophet Muhammad died in 632 CE and the Rashidun Caliphate arose at that time. A close companion of Propet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Rashidun caliphate. He was followed by Umar, Uthman and then Ali. It was during Ali's reign that there was a war of succession ending with estalishment of Ummayad Caliphate. Note that Ali, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali, was the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. Ali was assassinated in 661 after which Ummayad Caliphate emerged as the new caliphate.
2. Ummayad Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate, from 661 to 750 CE.
3. Abbasid Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate, from 750 to 1258 CE though it continued to claim religious authority based in Egypt from 1258 to 1517.
4. Ottoman Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Caliphate, from 1517 to 1924 CE.
Now for some info. about the Abbasid caliphate as extracts from its wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate (/əˈbæsɪd/ or /ˈæbəsɪd/ Arabic: ٱلْخِلافَةُ ٱلْعَبَّاسِيَّة, al-Khilāfatu al-ʿAbbāsiyyah) was the third of the Islamic caliphates to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes its name.[2] They ruled as caliphs for most of the caliphate from their capital in Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, after having overthrown the Umayyad Caliphate in the Abbasid Revolution of 750 CE (132 AH).
The Abbasid Caliphate first centred its government in Kufa, modern-day Iraq, but in 762 the caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad, near the ancient Sasanian capital city of Ctesiphon. The Abbasid period was marked by reliance on Persian bureaucrats (notably the Barmakid family) for governing the territories as well as an increasing inclusion of non-Arab Muslims in the ummah (national community). Persianate customs were broadly adopted by the ruling elite, and they began patronage of artists and scholars.[3] Baghdad became a centre of science, culture, philosophy and invention in what became known as the Golden Age of Islam.
...
The political power of the caliphs largely ended with the rise of the Iranian Buyids and the Seljuq Turks, who captured Baghdad in 945 and 1055, respectively. Although Abbasid leadership over the vast Islamic empire was gradually reduced to a ceremonial religious function, the dynasty retained control over its Mesopotamian domain. The Abbasids' period of cultural fruition ended in 1258 with the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan. The Abbasid line of rulers, and Muslim culture in general, re-centred themselves in the Mamluk capital of Cairo in 1261. Though lacking in political power (with the brief exception of Caliph Al-Musta'in of Cairo), the dynasty continued to claim religious authority until after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517.[6]
[Wiki References:]
2. Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abbasid Dynasty". Encyclopedia Britannica. I: A-Ak – Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8., p. 10.
3. Canfield, Robert L. (2002). Turko-Persia in Historical Perspective. Cambridge University Press. p. 5. ISBN 9780521522915.
6. Holt, Peter M. (1984). "Some Observations on the 'Abbāsid Caliphate of Cairo". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. University of London. 47 (3): 501–507. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00113710.
--- end extracts from Abbasid caliphate wiki page ---
Now we can get to the invasion of Baghdad by Hulagu Khan led Mongols & allies.
Hulagu Khan, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulagu_Khan, was a grandson of Genghiz Khan. Hulagu Khan was subordinate to his brother Mongke Khan who was the Great Khan (Khagan). Note that Hulagu Khan was not Muslim and may have been following Mongol shaman religion, and his wife and mother were Nestorian Christians.
I have included below information about the horrific destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols (and their allies). I think it is important to know this horror that happened in the past as a way to avoid such occurrences in future, no matter which country/kingdom/city/religion is involved.
People who prefer not to read about such horrific violence may please skip reading the rest of this post.
Given below are extracts from: Siege of Baghdad (1258), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Baghdad_(1258) :
The Siege of Baghdad, which lasted from January 29 until February 10, 1258, entailed the investment, capture, and sack of Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, by Ilkhanate Mongol forces and allied troops. The Mongols were under the command of Hulagu Khan (or Hulegu Khan), brother of the khagan Möngke Khan, who had intended to further extend his rule into Mesopotamia but not to directly overthrow the Caliphate. Möngke, however, had instructed Hulagu to attack Baghdad if the Caliph Al-Musta'sim refused Mongol demands for his continued submission to the khagan and the payment of tribute in the form of military support for Mongol forces in Persia.
Hulagu began his campaign in Persia with several offensives against Nizari groups, including the Assassins, who lost their stronghold of Alamut. He then marched on Baghdad, demanding that Al-Musta'sim accede to the terms imposed by Möngke on the Abbasids. Although the Abbasids had failed to prepare for the invasion, the Caliph believed that Baghdad could not fall to invading forces and refused to surrender. Hulagu subsequently besieged the city, which surrendered after 12 days. During the next week, the Mongols sacked Baghdad, committing numerous atrocities and destroying the Abbasids' vast libraries, including the House of Wisdom. The Mongols executed Al-Musta'sim and massacred many residents of the city, which was left greatly depopulated. The siege is considered to mark the end of the Islamic Golden Age, during which the caliphs had extended their rule from the Iberian Peninsula to Sindh, and which was also marked by many cultural achievements.[7]
...
Destruction
Many historical accounts detailed the cruelties of the Mongol conquerors. Baghdad was a depopulated, ruined city for several centuries and only gradually recovered some of its former glory.
The Mongols looted and then destroyed mosques, palaces, libraries, and hospitals. Priceless books from Baghdad's thirty-six public libraries were torn apart, the looters using their leather covers as sandals.[28] Grand buildings that had been the work of generations were burned to the ground. The House of Wisdom (the Grand Library of Baghdad), containing countless precious historical documents and books on subjects ranging from medicine to astronomy, was destroyed. Survivors said that the waters of the Tigris ran black with ink from the enormous quantities of books flung into the river and red from the blood of the scientists and philosophers killed.[29]
Citizens attempted to flee, but were intercepted by Mongol soldiers who killed in abundance, sparing neither women nor children. Martin Sicker writes that close to 90,000 people may have died.[30] Other estimates go much higher. Wassaf claims the loss of life was several hundred thousand. Ian Frazier of The New Yorker says estimates of the death toll have ranged from 200,000 to a million.[31]
The caliph Al-Musta'sim was captured and forced to watch as his citizens were murdered and his treasury plundered. According to most accounts, the caliph was killed by trampling. The Mongols rolled the caliph up in a rug, and rode their horses over him, as they believed that the earth would be offended if it were touched by royal blood. All but one of Al-Musta'sim's sons were killed, and the sole surviving son was sent to Mongolia, where Mongolian historians report he married and fathered children, but played no role in Islam thereafter (see The end of the Abbasid dynasty).
Hulagu had to move his camp upwind of the city, due to the stench of decay from the ruined city.
The historian David Morgan has quoted Wassaf describing the destruction: "They swept through the city like hungry falcons attacking a flight of doves, or like raging wolves attacking sheep, with loose reins and shameless faces, murdering and spreading terror...beds and cushions made of gold and encrusted with jewels were cut to pieces with knives and torn to shreds. Those hiding behind the veils of the great Harem were dragged...through the streets and alleys, each of them becoming a plaything...as the population died at the hands of the invaders."[32]
[Wiki References]
7. Matthew E. Falagas, Effie A. Zarkadoulia, George Samonis (2006). "Arab science in the golden age (750–1258 C.E.) and today", The FASEB Journal 20, pp. 1581–1586.
...
28. Murray, S.A.P. (2012). The library: An illustrated history. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, pp. 54.
29. Frazier, I., "Invaders: Destroying Baghdad," New Yorker Magazine, [Special edition: Annals of History], April 25, 2005, Online Issue Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
30. (Sicker 2000, p. 111)
31. Frazier, Ian (25 April 2005). "Annals of history: Invaders: Destroying Baghdad". The New Yorker. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
32. Marozzi, Justin (29 May 2014). Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood. Penguin Books. pp. 176–177. ISBN 978-0-14-194804-1.
--- end extracts from Siege of Baghdad wiki page:
An English translation of what is supposed to be the letter from Hulagu Khan to the Caliph of Baghdad (text version): https://www.quora.com/Where-can-I-find-the-translated-letter-that-Hulagu-Khan-wrote-to-the-caliph-of-Baghdad.
An audio version of the same: A Letter from Hulagu Khan to the Caliph of Baghdad, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2q6O4ZVgA, 2 min. 54 secs.
My prayers to God that never again should such horrific destruction happen, irrespective of the country/kingdom/city/religion involved.
[I thank wikipedia and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
But this post should not be viewed as anti-Islam. I would like to state that I believe in Shirdi Sai Baba's teaching of "Sabka Maalik Ek" (The master of all is ONE). In other words, I believe in ONE GOD with various religions including Islam being various paths/ways to worship and merge in that ONE GOD. Specifically, I am not against Islam, and am actually supportive of it, so long as it does not interfere in the right of others (like me, a Hindu) to practise their faiths which are different from Islam (e.g. Hinduism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, Judaism),
and also does not interfere in the right of some to not have faith (atheists/agnostics). Shirdi Sai Baba used to say "Allah Maalik" (Allah/God is the master) very often; I revere the same Shirdi Sai Baba, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sai_Baba_of_Shirdi, and try to follow His teachings.
The famous & major Islamic caliphates, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate, are
1. Rashidun Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate, from 632 to 661 CE: Note that Prophet Muhammad died in 632 CE and the Rashidun Caliphate arose at that time. A close companion of Propet Muhammad, Abu Bakr, became the first Caliph of the Rashidun caliphate. He was followed by Umar, Uthman and then Ali. It was during Ali's reign that there was a war of succession ending with estalishment of Ummayad Caliphate. Note that Ali, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali, was the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. Ali was assassinated in 661 after which Ummayad Caliphate emerged as the new caliphate.
2. Ummayad Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate, from 661 to 750 CE.
3. Abbasid Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate, from 750 to 1258 CE though it continued to claim religious authority based in Egypt from 1258 to 1517.
4. Ottoman Caliphate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Caliphate, from 1517 to 1924 CE.
Now for some info. about the Abbasid caliphate as extracts from its wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate (/əˈbæsɪd/ or /ˈæbəsɪd/ Arabic: ٱلْخِلافَةُ ٱلْعَبَّاسِيَّة, al-Khilāfatu al-ʿAbbāsiyyah) was the third of the Islamic caliphates to succeed the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib (566–653 CE), from whom the dynasty takes its name.[2] They ruled as caliphs for most of the caliphate from their capital in Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, after having overthrown the Umayyad Caliphate in the Abbasid Revolution of 750 CE (132 AH).
The Abbasid Caliphate first centred its government in Kufa, modern-day Iraq, but in 762 the caliph Al-Mansur founded the city of Baghdad, near the ancient Sasanian capital city of Ctesiphon. The Abbasid period was marked by reliance on Persian bureaucrats (notably the Barmakid family) for governing the territories as well as an increasing inclusion of non-Arab Muslims in the ummah (national community). Persianate customs were broadly adopted by the ruling elite, and they began patronage of artists and scholars.[3] Baghdad became a centre of science, culture, philosophy and invention in what became known as the Golden Age of Islam.
...
The political power of the caliphs largely ended with the rise of the Iranian Buyids and the Seljuq Turks, who captured Baghdad in 945 and 1055, respectively. Although Abbasid leadership over the vast Islamic empire was gradually reduced to a ceremonial religious function, the dynasty retained control over its Mesopotamian domain. The Abbasids' period of cultural fruition ended in 1258 with the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan. The Abbasid line of rulers, and Muslim culture in general, re-centred themselves in the Mamluk capital of Cairo in 1261. Though lacking in political power (with the brief exception of Caliph Al-Musta'in of Cairo), the dynasty continued to claim religious authority until after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517.[6]
[Wiki References:]
2. Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Abbasid Dynasty". Encyclopedia Britannica. I: A-Ak – Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8., p. 10.
3. Canfield, Robert L. (2002). Turko-Persia in Historical Perspective. Cambridge University Press. p. 5. ISBN 9780521522915.
6. Holt, Peter M. (1984). "Some Observations on the 'Abbāsid Caliphate of Cairo". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. University of London. 47 (3): 501–507. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00113710.
--- end extracts from Abbasid caliphate wiki page ---
Now we can get to the invasion of Baghdad by Hulagu Khan led Mongols & allies.
Hulagu Khan, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulagu_Khan, was a grandson of Genghiz Khan. Hulagu Khan was subordinate to his brother Mongke Khan who was the Great Khan (Khagan). Note that Hulagu Khan was not Muslim and may have been following Mongol shaman religion, and his wife and mother were Nestorian Christians.
I have included below information about the horrific destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols (and their allies). I think it is important to know this horror that happened in the past as a way to avoid such occurrences in future, no matter which country/kingdom/city/religion is involved.
People who prefer not to read about such horrific violence may please skip reading the rest of this post.
Given below are extracts from: Siege of Baghdad (1258), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Baghdad_(1258) :
The Siege of Baghdad, which lasted from January 29 until February 10, 1258, entailed the investment, capture, and sack of Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, by Ilkhanate Mongol forces and allied troops. The Mongols were under the command of Hulagu Khan (or Hulegu Khan), brother of the khagan Möngke Khan, who had intended to further extend his rule into Mesopotamia but not to directly overthrow the Caliphate. Möngke, however, had instructed Hulagu to attack Baghdad if the Caliph Al-Musta'sim refused Mongol demands for his continued submission to the khagan and the payment of tribute in the form of military support for Mongol forces in Persia.
Hulagu began his campaign in Persia with several offensives against Nizari groups, including the Assassins, who lost their stronghold of Alamut. He then marched on Baghdad, demanding that Al-Musta'sim accede to the terms imposed by Möngke on the Abbasids. Although the Abbasids had failed to prepare for the invasion, the Caliph believed that Baghdad could not fall to invading forces and refused to surrender. Hulagu subsequently besieged the city, which surrendered after 12 days. During the next week, the Mongols sacked Baghdad, committing numerous atrocities and destroying the Abbasids' vast libraries, including the House of Wisdom. The Mongols executed Al-Musta'sim and massacred many residents of the city, which was left greatly depopulated. The siege is considered to mark the end of the Islamic Golden Age, during which the caliphs had extended their rule from the Iberian Peninsula to Sindh, and which was also marked by many cultural achievements.[7]
...
Destruction
Many historical accounts detailed the cruelties of the Mongol conquerors. Baghdad was a depopulated, ruined city for several centuries and only gradually recovered some of its former glory.
The Mongols looted and then destroyed mosques, palaces, libraries, and hospitals. Priceless books from Baghdad's thirty-six public libraries were torn apart, the looters using their leather covers as sandals.[28] Grand buildings that had been the work of generations were burned to the ground. The House of Wisdom (the Grand Library of Baghdad), containing countless precious historical documents and books on subjects ranging from medicine to astronomy, was destroyed. Survivors said that the waters of the Tigris ran black with ink from the enormous quantities of books flung into the river and red from the blood of the scientists and philosophers killed.[29]
Citizens attempted to flee, but were intercepted by Mongol soldiers who killed in abundance, sparing neither women nor children. Martin Sicker writes that close to 90,000 people may have died.[30] Other estimates go much higher. Wassaf claims the loss of life was several hundred thousand. Ian Frazier of The New Yorker says estimates of the death toll have ranged from 200,000 to a million.[31]
The caliph Al-Musta'sim was captured and forced to watch as his citizens were murdered and his treasury plundered. According to most accounts, the caliph was killed by trampling. The Mongols rolled the caliph up in a rug, and rode their horses over him, as they believed that the earth would be offended if it were touched by royal blood. All but one of Al-Musta'sim's sons were killed, and the sole surviving son was sent to Mongolia, where Mongolian historians report he married and fathered children, but played no role in Islam thereafter (see The end of the Abbasid dynasty).
Hulagu had to move his camp upwind of the city, due to the stench of decay from the ruined city.
The historian David Morgan has quoted Wassaf describing the destruction: "They swept through the city like hungry falcons attacking a flight of doves, or like raging wolves attacking sheep, with loose reins and shameless faces, murdering and spreading terror...beds and cushions made of gold and encrusted with jewels were cut to pieces with knives and torn to shreds. Those hiding behind the veils of the great Harem were dragged...through the streets and alleys, each of them becoming a plaything...as the population died at the hands of the invaders."[32]
[Wiki References]
7. Matthew E. Falagas, Effie A. Zarkadoulia, George Samonis (2006). "Arab science in the golden age (750–1258 C.E.) and today", The FASEB Journal 20, pp. 1581–1586.
...
28. Murray, S.A.P. (2012). The library: An illustrated history. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, pp. 54.
29. Frazier, I., "Invaders: Destroying Baghdad," New Yorker Magazine, [Special edition: Annals of History], April 25, 2005, Online Issue Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine
30. (Sicker 2000, p. 111)
31. Frazier, Ian (25 April 2005). "Annals of history: Invaders: Destroying Baghdad". The New Yorker. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
32. Marozzi, Justin (29 May 2014). Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood. Penguin Books. pp. 176–177. ISBN 978-0-14-194804-1.
--- end extracts from Siege of Baghdad wiki page:
An English translation of what is supposed to be the letter from Hulagu Khan to the Caliph of Baghdad (text version): https://www.quora.com/Where-can-I-find-the-translated-letter-that-Hulagu-Khan-wrote-to-the-caliph-of-Baghdad.
An audio version of the same: A Letter from Hulagu Khan to the Caliph of Baghdad, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC2q6O4ZVgA, 2 min. 54 secs.
My prayers to God that never again should such horrific destruction happen, irrespective of the country/kingdom/city/religion involved.
[I thank wikipedia and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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